Community

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My community - my people - what people - all people - I wish to feel one with all!

I reflect on the geese I photographed at Dead Creek Preserve yesterday - the eve of elections. They are flying every which direction, preparing for a united flight to more seasonable weather, for a while, not four years, maybe four months. They will come together, and make the journey - it’s predictable - it is in their nature - as is to come together is our nature.

Can there be unity in the UNITED STATES? My present skepticism says it is shaky. My optimism says it will happen - the many good people will guide the way.

I am reminded of the words of my good friend Francis: “Make me an instrument of Peace. Where there is Hatred, sow Love. Where there is Injury - Pardon. Doubt - Faith. Despair - Hope. Darkness - Light. Sadness - Joy. Grant that I don’t seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love…” LOVE is the answer. When will we all realize that? So many do. So many will. Listen for the whisper. Learn from the geese. Come together - from ego to essence!

Community

Flying White Angels

Good Intentions

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The saying goes - “The path to hell is paved with good intentions”. The point is, action is the step that gets plans done! Well, there is no eternal hell. I suspect some live hell on earth, but that is beside the point of this blog. I want to talk about my good intentions with planting Black Walnut trees.

My intention in 2018 when we moved to the 17 acres of rolling hills in the foothills of the Green Mountains in Richmond, Vermont, was to start a business of growing 100 Black Walnut trees that would be harvested in forty years for the benefit of my three grandkids.

Good thought, and who knows, maybe my good intentions will amount to benefit someone, someday. In the meantime - the present, which is all there is - I find it a treat to see them grow. I am attached to my Black Walnut trees. Two of the sixty trees I planted produced walnuts this year. They say each tree will produce 30 bushels of nuts - what? I didn’t think about the nuts when I started! When I found out about the fruit bearing, I thought, well, that’s not mine to worry about. But here we are with mandarin size fruit, and struggling how to get to the walnut. I suspect nuts will pop like popcorn in my 80”s, which I plan to live through. I am experiencing more fun than I expected. Maybe I’ll still plant the forty more I intended. Things change. Sometimes you have to pivot.

Survival

My Golden Moment

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It was less than the Golden Hour, maybe a half hour til sun over the Adirondack. Me and My Person sauntered toward the water at Meach Cove, knowing our return would be dark. Pass around my neck, monopod in my hand, I stopped once, twice, three times to capture the confluence of light, color and design. How perfect the moment. I love it.

golden pathway

Golden globe

Natural Order

Conflicts of Interest

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When I practiced as a CPA and a CFP, a first step in any engagement was determining if there were any conflicts of interest. It is a rule that made sense if you are going to attest to the authenticity of financial records, or give financial advice about implementing a financial plan with specific investments. Now, as I learn more about the importance of nutrition and health, nearing my ninth decade, I am inclined to verify that there are no conflicts of interest with the products and services that I consume, hearing how the product or service is better than sliced bread. Makes sense to me. Especially with my current level of cynicism with talking heads, politicians, and Big Brother.

The Food and Drug industry is a good example. All involved in making money directly or with lobbying efforts for a drug or food, are in question, with clear conflicts of interest. For example, obesity in America, and all related diseases is shockingly high. Pharmaceutical and large food companies want you to be addicted to their products and services. Accordingly, obesity has been on the rise for many years. There are product pushers for addicting sugar, processed food and alcohol products. These desirable products are becoming more known for their bad health impact, but are hard to resist with all the hype about them. Truth in consumption affects is needed, as well as awareness of conflicts of interest by promoters.

Medicine and related care providers deserve accolades for keeping people alive longer and longer. Unfortunately, there are conflicts of interests to treat the symptoms with more and more products and services, while patients deal with more and more pain and health problems. Living long is no good if the quality is shitty.

Like the leaves that fall to the ground, we are recycled somehow, someway. May life be long, and healthy, with intended natural foods and movement. And, may we live with love, not fear, knowing that spirits live on.

Fallen and I can’t get up

Close By

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I am astonished by the beauty nearby. I have said I don’t need to travel the world to see beauty, but I am not sure I was convinced, until now. Seeing the beauty may have to do with the power of looking - taking the time to suck up surrounding nature. I was walking from our greenhouse to our photo studio, and I saw a single tree in the distance, with a nice Fall look that felt pleasing to see. I have been looking all over the state for a lone tree image, like the one below, I call In The Distance. Also the second image, which I have in my top ten Fall images was taken around the corner. I call it Richmond Foothills. Beauty is all over. Believing is seeing. Slowing down and sucking up living nature around us is awesome.

In the distance

Richmond Foothiills

Connecting

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Technology achievements - more choices - more opportunities - and more need to prioritize behavior.

The image below makes me wonder. Are cell phones detracting from our best connecting or improving our connecting with the living world? The question comes to mind as I capture an obviously avid early morning paddler at Green River Reservoir State Park, north of Morrisville, Vermont. The young lady is using her cell phone and missing a fleeting moment of magical seasonal peaceful transformation on calm waters.

Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, You Tube, Emails, Texts, Twitter, TruthSocial, TikTok, a zillion apps - What improves connecting and what detracts from good connecting? Is it best to smell, touch, feel, and speak directly to who or what we are in the presence with? Are we satisfied with the convenience of connecting via a screen, without a number of senses present? Is it necessary to multi-task? I pride myself in multi-tasking, but what am I missing? Are we overloaded with the options that technology has advanced? Why am I less trusting of contradicting media alternatives? It is obvious to me… slow down, breathe, pause, prioritize, live love.

connecting

time out

Delight

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During a Friday morning walk with Jess, Paul, and Rob we noticed monarchs attracted to an Aster bush along the beautiful Burlington Lake Champlain path. With Fall foliage peaking I decided to use my monopod as a photo monopod and not just as a walking stick. I am glad I did. One monarch posed in just the right place for an image to reflect on.

I correct myself - our walks are really saunters. This is good for us middle elders. Not only are we maybe a little slower naturally, it provides us an opportunity to notice beautiful living nature as it noticeably changes early October

Attracting Asters

It's Out of Hand!

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Duality would be ok if separate realities were accepted with interest, curiosity, edification. But no; it seems canceling, lying, ghosting, are more the norm now.

I believe strongly that without trust there is nothing. Think about it - how is it possible to have any kind of meaningful relationship without trust. I have lost trust in ‘talking heads’, politicians, others. I understand exaggeration, cynicism, tongue in check, black humor. But, the sense of humor, and having fun, accepting Don Rickles type of shtick, is not acceptable any longer. It is an untrusting, combative, mess out there now - it is out of hand. Loosen up man.

I look to non-duality now. I want not to judge. I long for more - ‘Just the facts, ma’am’. Opinions are ok though. I accept yours. Let’s not fight. Let’s love.

out of hand

Big Moon Light

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Sometimes Nature just doesn't cooperate. I wanted a big, well defined full moon, nicely positioned over Camels Hump, to make a piece of art. Like usual, I work with what is gift. Last night was a beautiful night to be looking at the full moon rise, while the sun was setting. I love it.

Later, 10:30 or so, a partial eclipse occurred. I went to the driveway, well showered and in my PJ’s to catch a photo, no art making, just the facts ma’am.

Big Moon light

Partial Eclipse

Go with the Flow

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I emphasize living in the present. It seems all the gurus speak of living in the present. It makes sense. The past is gone. The future is nice to provide for, but the present is where it’s at. Now is all. It is so easy for me to miss something I want to be there for when I am not aware, mindful, in the present. It is joyful to be alive and aware of all the natural living wonder that is going on in front of my nose. Not that I want to hear all the shit, or be in the middle of turbulence, but if I am going to be in the present I need to go with the flow. I can’t control the uncontrollable. I can choose to participate in life in an authentic, joyful, upbeat, loving manner. I can be kind, not judging or comparing. I can be patient, listen to different realities. I can forgive when necessary. Doing the opposite of these positives is not so joyful. Why would I want to do that?

Go with the flow


Resilence

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As I open my reticular activator to living wonder I am finding myself saying unf@#$%^&*beievable. This is new for me. What I am concluding is, believe it man! There is unbelievable wonders in nature, in us. Believing is half way to feeling the joy of the journey.

My heart brain and my autonomic nervous system are avenues to my inner wisdom - my unconscious, that I so desire to access. I believe we have abilities to heal ourselves, to overcome the undesirable, to get thru tough times - being resilient. And, doing it with a good feeling.

It may be an emotional move, it may be financial. I know it is not just a mindset. I know I need to participate, do my best. Bucking up, helping to the extent I can, with a good positive attitude, goes a long way - acting with God given resilience.

RESILIENCE

Benevolent

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Benevolent

I woke this morning with a great grateful feeling - maybe my mantra taking hold, maybe my recent readings by Dr. Joe Dispenza, maybe my birthday month and thinking about life after life. Maybe my new wonderful connections. Whatever, it is unfxxxxxxbelievable. I know it won’t last, but I hope to get glimpses now and then. This overwhelming feeling has happened to me a few times in the last few months. Maybe it is part of my new spiritual journey, post Patty. I love it!

Abstraction - What?

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What does abstraction mean to me, in regard to my new BIG photo-reflection project I call ABSTRACTION? I have been altering images to my liking for some time. There has been a movement, for me, to abstraction for a while. I have less interest now in sharpness, depth of field, documentation. My interest now is light, color, design, message - altering the original view even to the point of non-recognition. I strive to raise question, not answer them. I strive to insight imagination, not clarity. I like when an image is affect, an intangible; a feeling, mood, philosophical or theological message. Be it positive. Be it delighting. Be it inspiring, Be it hopeful. Be it beautiful. Be it honoring natural awe. Flowers are a recent awe for me! I have even set up a gallery of flowers on my gallery site MESipe.com. I love it! I am not sure where my new bent will lead, but I am open to my universe. God, I pray I see your living wonder.

Fleeting Beauty

see SKYWARD

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It’s complete. I am done with my latest BIG photo reflection book - SKYWARD. All 240 pages of sky photos and reflections are posted on MikeSipe.com at the tab SKY REFLECTIONS. Please take a look. I like it as much as WATER REFLECTIONS. Now onto the next BIG photo reflection book, ABSTRACTION. I suspect it will take a couple years, like the others - a work-in-process - like me.

felicity